Free at last...

[kickaha]

Well, almost so.

I convinced IT in my dept to take my Windows box away.

"Do you need an upgrade?"

"No, I want you to remove it."

"Does it need repairing?"

"No, I want you to remove it."

"Is there something wrong with it?"

"Yes, it's useless and taking up 1/3 of my desk, please remove it."

"What's wrong with it?"

"The hardware, and the OS. Please remove."

"But, what are you going to do for a computer?"

"I have my PowerBook."

"But don't you do, like, development?"

"Yes, Unix development."

"But don't you like, use the web?"

"Yes, constantly."

"But don't you need to access the network?"

"Yes, I do everyday."

"... Are you sure?"

"Just come get it, will you?"

I got a copy of the problem ticket they submitted to have the task completed: "Jason finds his Mac to be sufficient."

Sufficient? SUFFICIENT?!? No, it actually works, provides a real Unix core for me to develop with, provides all the consumer level features I want, and just plain works.

Sufficient. Cripes. Reality check: I'm a PhD student in computer science, you're a low paid IT wonk. I might know what I'm talking about.

OTOH, I now have my desk back, and except for a $10 copy of Office, I am now MS-free at both work and home. :) (C'mon OpenOffice!)

Comments

Re: Sufficient, from m-w.com

[sfeldon.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was about 3% harsher than I needed to be or meant to be. Nonetheless, comments like "My Windows box is useless" are much closer to Mac bigotry than "I never use it; my PowerBook does everything I need." The latter is _not_ the Windows box being useless--it's the Mac being sufficient, in one of the _positive_ connotations. Millions of people get good and valid work done every day on Windows machines, just like thousands do on Macintoshes--so _neither_ are useless. It's just that one isn't your cup of tea.

So when will you be up here? :)

Re: Sufficient, from m-w.com

[kickaha.livejournal.com]

I should have posted what I actually said: "I never use it." You're right, "It's useless" has a completely different intent and meaning... and this whole thread was about the meaning of words. :)

Late October, it looks like - I'll be letting y'all know as it gets closer.

(And don't think I didn't see the millions/thousands... ;) )

Re: Sufficient, from m-w.com

[sfeldon.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'd have been disappointed if you _didn't_ see it. Honestly. :)

I never use it could adequately describe many of the machines I have littered about my office here--I think I'm down to a dozen, now, but two of them I actually use. But it's part of my job to be _ready_ to test things I don't test every day. . . .